Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review 8-7-15

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squadron in military history to be- “Prior to declaring [initial operat- $Q)%/LJKWQLQJ,,SUHSDUHVWRWD[LRQWKHÀLJKWGHFNRIWKH866WaspGXULQJQLJKWRSHUDWLRQVDWVHDDVSDUWRID
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[initial operating capability] has truly nance personnel to assume autonomous, according to the release. Marine Attack
readiness inspection, which con- sea aboard an L-Class carrier, partici- RUJDQLFOHYHOPDLQWHQDQFHVXSSRUWIRU Squadron 211 is scheduled to transition
been a team effort.” the F-35B, the release said. LQ¿VFDO\HDUDQG0DULQH)LJKWHU
cluded July 17, according to a news pated in multiple large force exercis- Attack Squadron 311 will conduct its
The Marine Corps has trained and Two AV-8B Harrier II squadrons will transition in 2018.
release issued today by the Marine es, and executed a recent operational TXDOL¿HGPRUHWKDQ0DULQH)% be the next to transition to the F-35B,
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“I am pleased to announce that “The F-35Bs ability to conduct opera-
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tions from expeditionary airstrips or
erational capability in the F-35B, as VHDEDVHGFDUULHUVSURYLGHVRXUQD-
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gressional Defense Committees,” ):LOO(YHQWXDOO\5HSODFH
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Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford
As the future of Marine Corps tacti-
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said in the Marine Corps release. replace three legacy platforms: the

“VMFA-121 has 10 aircraft in AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet,
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the Marine Corps release.
weapons clearances, to include the
“The success of VMFA-121 is a re-
training, sustainment capabilities, and ÀHFWLRQRIWKHKDUGZRUNDQGHIIRUWE\

infrastructure to deploy to an austere the Marines in the squadron, those in-
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escort and armed reconnaissance as

part of a Marine air-ground task force,
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Dunford stated that he has his full

confidence in the F-35Bs ability to

support Marines in combat, predi-
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ing members of the public using drones, including a quadcopter that
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the threat, he said.
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what they’re trying to do,” Gregg said.

“What we’re trying to do at Black Dart is make sure that we are
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their capabilities before those capabilities outpace ours,” he added.

The smaller class of drones is an “emphasis item” this year at Black

Dart, in response to concerns from combatant commanders and in-

teragency partners, including law enforcement agencies, Gregg said.
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military application, Gregg said.
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performance and capabilities to some of the UASs that are considered

to be threats.

“It’s a burgeoning market. The threat is expanding rapidly, pro-
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said. “Our allies are using them, our coalition partners are using them,
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DOD photographs by Lisa Ferdinando

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August 7, 2015 Aerotech News and Review 3

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